Wavelength Calculator

Wavelength is the distance between successive crests of a wave:

Wavelength (λ) = Wave Speed (v) / Frequency (f)

For electromagnetic waves (light, radio, etc.):

• Speed of light in vacuum: 299,792,458 m/s (≈ 3 × 10⁸ m/s)
• λ = c / f
• Visible light: 380 nm (violet) to 700 nm (red)

For sound waves:

• Speed of sound in air at 20°C: 343 m/s
• Speed of sound in water: 1,480 m/s
• λ = v / f

Unit conversions:

• 1 meter = 100 cm = 1,000 mm
• 1 meter = 1,000,000,000 nm (10⁹ nm)
• 1 nm = 10⁻⁹ m

Common frequency prefixes:

• 1 kHz = 1,000 Hz
• 1 MHz = 1,000,000 Hz
• 1 GHz = 1,000,000,000 Hz
• 1 THz = 1,000,000,000,000 Hz

Examples:

• FM Radio (100 MHz): λ = 3 meters
• WiFi (2.4 GHz): λ = 12.5 cm
• Green light (550 THz): λ = 545 nm
• Middle C note (262 Hz, in air): λ = 1.31 m